Melbourne researchers studying the rise of 'boomerang' children

With more adult children remaining at home with their parents well into adulthood, Melbourne researchers have studied the growing trend of "boomerang" children.

University of Melbourne researchers examined the rising trend among school leavers to return home, following their first attempt at moving out.

With a sample size of more than two million people, the researchers coined those who moved back in with their parents after a previous attempt at living out of home "boomerang" children, while "failure to launch" children are those who have never left.

They found that although the reasons for staying at home were unique and varied, the key reasons for kids returning home included: university studies, high living costs and lack of employment.

Associate Professor Cassandra Szoeke and researcher Katherine Burn examined recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data and 15 years of academic studies into the trend.

Currently, 29 percent of adults aged between 18 and 34 are still living with their parents. In 1976, it was only 21 percent.

Miss Burn knows better than anyone the struggles of being a "failure to launch" child.